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JACKSONVILLE (FOX 13) - Eleven people are "shaken up" but safe, deputies say, two hours after they were taken hostage during an apparent bank robbery attempt in Jacksonville.

The scene unfolded just after 9 a.m. at a Community First Credit Union location on West Edgewood Avenue. Deputies say a suspect walked into the bank and threatened several people with a gun.

The sheriff's office initially said they weren't sure how many hostages were inside. A 911 caller reported a robbery in progress and a subsequent caller said one person had been shot.

"We know multiple people are being held hostage inside the bank by a suspect who is armed with a handgun," s spokesperson said.

SWAT and negotiators rushed to the scene. The sheriff's office asked citizens and the media to avoid the immediate area of the bank and to refrain from posting photos of the scene on social media.

Just after 11 a.m., two people who had been hiding in the bank slipped out, distracting the gunman. That's when the SWAT team decided to make their move and storm the bank, ultimately freeing the remaining hostages.

Glad we could help. 11 lives saved today. We are proud. We were ready and we are well trained. Thank you. 💙👮🏻👍🏼 https://t.co/RTSDn4VUkv